The European Union (EU) Commission has unveiled plans to invest significantly in trade and transport infrastructure across West Africa, with a particular focus on the Abidjan-Lagos corridor.
This initiative is part of the EU’s Global Gateway Initiative, which aims to mobilise €150 billion in investments across Africa, with a specific move to eliminate about 80 extortion checkpoints within the Benin Republic border to Lagos State for seamless trade.
The Team Lead of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Celine Lhoste, highlighted the importance of Lagos ports to trade efficiency in the Abidjan-Lagos corridor yesterday during a meeting between the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and European Union Delegation and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Lagos.
She emphasised the EU’s commitment to supporting efforts to decongest Lagos ports and improve inland dry ports.Lhoste expressed the EU Commission’s interest in facilitating coastal shipping between Cotonou and Lagos ports, which could significantly enhance trade between Nigeria and Benin.
She said the EU is also in discussions with the Port of Antwerp to explore using barges to ease congestion and improve connections between seaports and hinterlands in Nigeria.
The Transport Officer at the Directorate General International Partnership of the EU Commission, Jesus Gavilan, outlined the challenges along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor, such as the numerous checkpoints that hinder smooth transport between Benin and Nigeria.
“When you move from the Benin border to Lagos, you can be stopped at least 20 times with 80 checkpoints. This is a big barrier for transport between the two countries,” he said.
He said the EU is working on a one-stop border post between the Benin Republic and Lagos to streamline the passage of goods, noting that the border post has not been fully operational with a lot needed to be done for the smooth passage of goods.
He said the project is in partnership with the French Development Agency and the European Investment Bank and is nearing its official launch.
Gavilan also emphasised the need for inland dry ports as a key element to decongest the seaports, improve exports abroad, noting that the EU will have a look into investing in infrastructure while partnering with the Shippers’ Council.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Pius Akutah, reiterated the Council’s commitment to port efficiency and trade facilitation and highlighted its role in setting tariffs and handling charges to reduce cargo abandonment and expedite ship turnaround times.
Akutah, represented by Executive Director of Human Resources, Ada Okamm, solicited EU investment in the development of key transport infrastructures.
The Director of Special Duties at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mustapha Zubairu, emphasised the need for a railway at the Lekki port to alleviate congestion caused by surrounding industrial activities.